Return of the Native

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Way back when PeerCentered kicked off in the late 1990's, it was a live, real-time online discussion group conducted in a text-based chat system. Peer tutors from around the world gathered to talk about topics relevant to their work. As you might imagine, regular live online meetings weren't even remotely as ubiquitous as they are today, so maintaining and sustaining them was difficult. It was then that PeerCentered shifted towards the blog model that has occupied it since 2002.  

With 2022 being the 20th anniversary of the PeerCentered blog, it seems appropriate to celebrate that through returning to our roots and revive the real-time online PeerCentered discussions. This time, however, rather than using a clunky text chat interface, we're going to hold them with live audio and video and all the bells and whistles that such an environment can provide. 

Starting in January 2022, we'll have four monthly discussions for peer writing tutors and other interested parties.  In the list below, you will find the dates, times, discussion subject, and any potential readings/viewings that tie in to the discussion.  I will act as moderator for the sessions, but if you would like to get involved in moderating, please let me know at Clint.Gardner@slcc.edu.

  • Looking Forward by Looking Back or What We've Learned about Being Peer Tutors During the Pandemic
  • Antiracism and the Peer Writing Tutor
    • Date: February 15, 2022
    • Time:  12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (-7 GMT)
    • URL:  https://bit.ly/peercentered
    • Zoom
      • Meeting ID: 831 7633 3641
      • Passcode: 653237
    • Suggested reading:  Green, Neisha-Anne. "Moving beyond Alright: And the Emotional Toll of Tis, My Life Matters Too, in the Writing Center Work." WCJ 37.1 (2018) pp 15-34.
    • Suggested viewing Green, Neisha-Anne. "Moving Beyond Alright with Neisha-Anne Green." FIT Archive on Demand.  YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y6szZCwGFiU . May 30, 2018.  
    • Suggested reading: Douglas, Tashonna. 'Tutors' Column: "The Language We Occupy." WLN 45.9 (May/June 2021) pp 26-28.
  • Finding Where you Belong:  Transfer Students and Writing Centers
    • March 15, 2022
    • Time:  12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time (-7 GMT)
    • URL:  https://bit.ly/peercentered
    • Zoom
      • Meeting ID: 831 7633 3641
      • Passcode: 653237
    • Suggested reading: Saumell, Samantha. 'Tutors' Column: "Finding Where You Belong."' WLN 46: 1-2. (September/October 2021) pp 26-29.

  • Future You: How has working as a peer tutor shaped your educational experience? How will it impact your future?
    • April 19, 2022
    • Time:  12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time (-7 GMT)
    • URL:  https://bit.ly/peercentered
    • Zoom
      • Meeting ID: 831 7633 3641
      • Passcode: 653237
    • Suggested reading:  Hughes, Bradley, Paula Gillespie, and Harvey Kail. "What They Take with Them: Findings from the Peer Writing Tutor Alumni Research Project." WCJ: 30.2 (Fall 2010) pp. 12-46.


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